Slide valve



May 7,1935; E. c. CLARKE 2,000,822

- S LIDE VALVE Original Filed Jan. .30, 19,34 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ay 7,935. E c. CLARKE 2,000,322

" suns VALVE briginal Filed Jan. 30, 1934 4 sheets-sheet 2 EQC. CLARKE I2,000,822

SLIDE VALVE Original Filed Jan. 30, 1934 4 Slfzeefs-Sheet 3 fr g?"229:6?

i J ////7 A May 7, 1935.

E. CLARKE SLIDHVALVE O riginaLFiIed Jam-30, 1954 "4 sums-sheet 4.Patented May 7,1935

, UNITED STATES amaze I "sum: VALVE Eugene c. chi-re, Chambersburg, Pa,amignor Ohamberabnrg Engineering Company,

Ohambenbnrnla a corporationof Pennsylapplication original Ian 709,034.Divided and m :0, 1934, Serial no.

this application July 5,

9 Claims. (01. 121 -21) This invention. relates to improvements in slidevalves, and is a division oi my copending appli-. cation for patent onSteam hammer, Serial No. 709,034, died January 30, 1934. v

A specific object of the invention is the provision of a slide-valve soconstructed that wear is reduced to a 'minimum operation o! thevalvefacilitated, and adjustment of the valve to compensate for wear inoperation is readily effected.

A further and m'ore specific obiectof the invention is the provisionof-a simple and readily producible slide valve structure in whichbinding of the valve and consequent excessive wear in. operation,together with diiiiculties in operation, due to unbalanced pressuresupon the valve, are completely eliminated. A still further object of theinvention is the provision of a valve so constructed that adjustmentsmaybe compensatedfor and the valve inspected to determine the necessityfor adjustments of its condition while it is underactualpressure.

- A further obiectof the invention is the provision of a slide valveespecially adapted forv use in conjunction with steam hammers and otherconstructions wherein it is desirable that the valve be so constructedand mounted that it can move in at least one direction with practicallyno resistance.

In the steam hammers ordinarily constructed, due to the rapidity ofaction, it is desirable thatreversal of intake and exhaust functionsshall take place as rapidly as possible. Such hammers ordinarilyincorporate ports at opposite ends of the cylinder for intake andexhaust, which ports are made of the same size, and accordingly willhandle equal amounts of pressure fluid and exhaust with the'samejfacility. Quite obviously, a steam hammer, due to the weightof the head,the supporting rod, and. the piston, has severe gravity effects toovercome,.gravity assisting in the downstroke, and resisting movement inthe up-stroke. An important factor is,'of course, to provide as rapid aspossible a downstrok'e, and due togravity effects, back pressure is setup un-' less the ports employed are of relatively "large size, a

and even then noticeable'back pressure effects occur. Since-the largerthe port, the 'greatenthetime required for valve movement to openandclose the port; and this has resulted in the adoption of medium size,ports providing, -of course, an excess of pressure fluid inlet on'thedown-stroke, and an excess of back pressure on such stroke, and aninadequate inlet on the upprovision of a port arrangement such that theintake and exhaust on these strokes may be properly proportioned,thereby eliminating back pressure effects, and materially economizing inpressure fluid., I v

Since such a port arrangement necessarily radically differs from theordinary port arrangement, and is incapable of control by the usual typeof valve, a.further object of theinvention is the provision of a valvefor controlling such port arrangement. r t These and other objects Iattainby the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein,for the purpose of illustration, I have and wherein:

An important object of this'invention isthe g Fig. 1 is a fragmentarysectionalview showing my slide valve employed in conjunction with asteam cylinder construction such as illustrated in the prior applicationaboveidentifled;

Fig.2 isa section online -2 of Fig. 1; Pig. 3 is'a section on line 3-3of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an elevation showing one face of the valve;

is a section on'line H of Fig. 4; Fig. is auction on line 6-8 of Fig. 4;Fig. is a section on line 1-1 of'Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a section on line Hof Fig. 4; Ii'ig. 9 is a section on line !8 of Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is anelevation of one face of the adjustable'plate including the intake port;7

Flg.'ll is an" elevation of the opposite face thereof;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation thereof; and

Fig. 13 ,is a fragmentary perspective of one of the adjusting means foradJusting said plate.

ings, the numeral Ill generally designates a valve chamber at presentshown-as a portion of the casting ll of a steam hammer cylinder. The

cylinder casting has formed therein upp r and lower ducts and it for thepassage of fluid pressure delivered to' the cylinder and exhaustedtherefrom. The lower passage I3 is relatively with the valve chamber I.through relatively restricted. port I I; while the duct I3 is branchedand communicates with the valve chamber through ports I. and II ofthesamefapproximate haust e I! provided will eliminate any.

back pressure eilects. Conversely, on the upstroke the passage Itaffords. means for admission of a relatively large amoimtof fluid duringa short period, thus giving the initial speed necessary on theup-stroke; while the restricted port It provides the necessarycushioning to prevent .overrunningofthepistonPandeonsequentdamage to thecylinder.

of the pressure area at the outer face of the plate- As illustrated, theplate ll iorms one working face of the valve chamber,'and the oppositeworking surface thereof is formed by an adjustable pressure platedesignated at it. This pressure plate has a centrally located port I!communicating through anysuitable throttle valve II with a source ofmotive fluid presure. The plate II has a male joint connection at I!with a port 22 leading from the throttle valve 2|, this connectionhaving about its periphery a seat for packing II, providing the sealbetween the plate and the entry port for-motive fluid. It will be notedthat pressure of the motive fluid will be exerted against the pressureplate to urge the same toward the wear plate ll through an area equal tothe dimeter of the joint connection at the periphery of the pachng seat,minus the area oi. the port I! at the point of communication with theplates between. wear and pressure plates and II. Comparison of theseareas may bereadily had by an inspection of Fig. 11 in which the periphey appears at "and the mouth of the port it is indicated in dotted lines.

Between pressure plate I8 and the wall of the chamber II are arrangedadjusting means gener ally designated at 2! and engaging the outer face0! the plate at points adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof. Theseadjusting means, as

shown in, Fig. 12, each comprises a trough-shaped the possible recessionof plate I! from plate ll.

A further adjusting means '2! similar to the adlusting means 2! isemployed to vertically locate plate II in the chamber. The plate, llhasformed therein a false port "-0 corresponding in size and location tothe openingof port it through the inner face ,ofplate ll. l'alseportlF-a comes into operation only in event 01 overtravel of the valve whichmight occur either from improper setting or breakage in the mechanismattached to the valve. In such an event, this take and exhaust chambersII and Il. In the present type of valve construction, the intake chamberis divided into two sections which are connected by a verticallyextending duct formed in the valve body, see Fig. 6. Each these chambersopens through opposite walls the valve body through openings of equalarea. The exhaust chamber 32 opens through. one faceofthevalvethroughaport ,throughthe sides the opposite face of the valvefrom the port 84,

ally formed therethrough ducts 31, II and a.

the purpose of which is to establish communication between each port II,It and I1 and its corthrough a duct 8'. The valve body hasaddltionrspondingfalse port'lI-a', iQ-aorl'I-a. The

port ll isrmaintained in continual communicaiion with its false portthrough the upper section of the intake chamber.

with a valve of the type illustrated positioned as shown in Fig. 1, whenthe valve is elevated, port ll is'placed ineommunication with port ll,andsteamisadmittedtothe upperendofthe cylinder; at the same time thechamber 82 is thrown in communication with port it, and port l1hssaccessto thespace around the valve from beneath the valve. when thevalve is lowered, chamber II is thrown into communication with port I.through its upper/section, and the port ll through its lower section;while port I is in communication with the space about the val from abovethe valve.

It will be noted that since pressure areas on opposite faces of thevalves are equal, and since plates I4 and ll have corresponding pressureareas through which pressure may be exerted against the valve, the onlypressure to which valve II will be subjected in operation will be thepressure resulting from adjustment of the plate ll, plate against thewall of thevalve chamber. It will also be noted that the space about thevalve designated at is subjected only to exhaust pressures, and sincethis space extends entirely around the valve, there is no resistance ofex- 'direction. Likewise, since only exhaust pressure exists about thevalve, there is no necessity for heavily reinforced cover plates, and alight cover plate ll may be employed which, when removed, will affordaccess to the valve without the necessity of cutting oil the supply ofmotive fluid, so that the valve may be inspected in actual operation.

In order that the pressure exerted through plate I. may be'readilyregulated and controlled to the setting aflorded by the shims 28, thedicetlve area of intake chamber ll against plate II is made such that itexceeds the eifeetive area of pressure application through the incomingsteam, which tends to urge plate I! from the plate ll. The steampressure thus acts toforce the plate it toward the intake port 22 andseat it firmly against the adjusting means 2|. with this arrangement, itis possible to set up" the valve to such an extent that-there will beactual binding in the absence of fluid pressure; and the valve will befreed immediately upon the admission or pressure fluid to such an extentthat it will drop by gravity. A valve construction'of this characterwith proper adjustment of the means II will 1 at all times operate bygravity on the downstroke, thus making the construction especisllyadaptabletousoinfluidll being stationarily secured haust pressure tomovement of the valve in either- 15 tion areas at its opposite faces, apair of surthe hammer to itsraised position following a working stroke.

Obviously, certain features ofthe valve may likewise be employed withequal facility in a .number of other forms, as for example, in the slidevalve mechanism of a locomotive. Since the valve must necessarily bechanged as to its operating structure for adaptation to various types ofcylinders, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to theparticular arrangement herein illustrated except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: v .1. A slide valve comprising a reciprocatery valve bodyhavlnl equal fluid pressure distribu- 1 slides, a plate opposing theopposite face of the 'portanditsfalseportp valve and having a port fordelivery of pressure to the valve body, said plate being mounted formovement toward and away from the valve body,

' arranged to limit separation of the plate from the valve body, andmeans for maintaining,a preponderance of fluid pressure against thevalve bodyopposingfaceoftheplater 1 3. In a slide valve, a reciprocatoryvalve body, a surface against which one face of the valve slides, aplate opposing the opposite face of the valve and having a port fordelivery ofpressure to the valve body, said plate being mounted formovement toward and away. from the valve body, adjusting means at thatface-of the plate which is remote from the valve body constructed andarranged to limit separation of the plate from the valve body, and meansformaintaining 9,009,822 'merconstructionsbyinsuringaquickreturn of Q 3and having an interiorly formed fluid pressure distribution chamber, aplate arranged between the inlet and the valve body and contacting withthe valve body and sealed to said inlet, the plate having a port forconducting fluid pressure to the chamber of the valve body, means forconducting exhaust fluids from one of the .distribution ports throughthe valve body to thechamberabout the valve, the, first-named 'wallcomprising a plate movable toward and away'from the valvebod'y,

adjustable means at the outer face of said plate for limiting separationof the valve and plate, and means tomaint'ain a preponderance of fluidpressure against the valve confronting side ofsaid receiving the valv'e'and including walls fltting against opposite faces of the valve, asupply port in one of said walls, distribution ports in the other ofsaid walls, the remaining walls of the chamber deflning an ,eihaustspace about the 8.- In a slide valve,'a valve body, a chamber sides ofthe valve, said distribution ports including a port permanently coveredby the valve, a port in the valve body to place said permanently covereddistribution port in communication with said exhaust space in oneposition of the valve body, and a second port in the valve body placingthe said distribution port in communication with the supply port in asecond pgfltion of the valve 7. a slide valve, -a valve body, a chamberreceiving the valve and-includinz walls fltting against opposite facesof the valve, a supply port in one of said walls, distribution ports inthe other of said walls, the remaining walls of the chamber defining anexhaust space about the sides of the valve, saiddistribution portsincluding a port permanently covered by the valve, a port in the valvebody to place said permanent-' a of fluid pressure against the yvalvefbody opposing face. of the plate, said'sur face havingdistribution ports, eachof said 'surfaceandplatehavinginitsvalvebodyconfronting-facefalseportscorrespondingtotheportsoftheother thereof, said body constructed and ar-.rangedtomaintaintheportsincommimicationwiththeircorrespondingfalseportsandtomaintainequalpressure areasinopposition toeacb having a 4.Inas lidevalve,avalvechamber fluid-pressureport in one wall thereof-and fluid pressure distribution portsinopposite 'therecflavalvebodyarrangedbetweensaidwallsandhavinganinteriorlyformedfluidm'essln'e'distribution chamber, a platearramed between the inletandthe valve body'and contacting withthevalvebodyandsealedtosaidinlehtbeplatemw ing a port forconducting'fluidpreuure to the chamberofthevalvebodyundmunaforcon the valve.

portsthroughthevalvebodytothechambe'rabout 5. In a slide valve, avalvehaving a fluid pressure port in wall thereof and fluid pressuredistribution ports-in the opposite wall 8. a slidevalve, a valve chambera fluid pressure port in one wall thereof and fluidpressure'distrlbution ports in the opposite wall thereof, a'valve bodyarranged between said walls and having an'interiorlyformed fluidpressure 4 distribution chamber, a plate arranged between the inlet andthe valve body and contacting'with the valve body and sealed to saidinlet, the, plate having a port for conducting fluid under'pressuretopthe chamber of the valve body, meansfor.

fluidsfrom one ofthedistributionportsthroughthevalvebodytothechamberaboutthevalve,andmeanstoimpartamoveinentfofthe valve alternately reports directlytOthecham- In a slide valve,' avalve chamber having mainingdistribution her about the valve.

between the inlet and the valve body,

t w s with. the valve'body and m? Tinlet,theplatehavingaportforccmhictingfluidfunder-pressuretothecliamberofthevalvebody,-

',avalvebodyarrangedb etweensaidwallsmeans for from one 15 of thedistribution ports through the valve body from the volve body,ndjulteble means at the to the chamber about the valve, means to impartouter face of said plate for limiting separation a. movement or thevalve alternately exposing o! the plate end valve. end means to mnintninthe remaining distribution pats directly to the the preponderance offluid pressure nainst the 4 5 chamber about the valve, the first-namedwell vllve-eonirontinl aide at said plete.

comprising a plate movable toward and away IUQINI C. CLARKE.

